MAD3PAD 46-48

[Michael J. Hußmann]

Toby G Levy (tobylevy at juno.com) wrote:

> vw#17: loxodrome - a line on the surface of the earth that makes equal
> oblique angles with all meridians and that is a spiral coiling round the
> poles but never reaching them

The loxodrome was devised by Pedro Nunes, a 16th century mathematician
who believed it marked the shortest path between two points on a sphere.
Nunes called this curve "rumbo", hence the English "rhumb line". The
term "loxodrome" wasn't used until 1624. 18th century navigators knew
very well that the shortest route between two points on earth was
defined by the great circle joining these points.

- Michael


Michael J. Hußmann

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